Guyana Times - Friday, January 20, 2023

Faulty koker door causes flash floods to hit parts of city

…NDIA asked to scrap contract, award emergency works to experienced contractor

Sections of Georgetown experienced flash flooding after a faulty door installed at the Princes Street Koker in Georgetown caused water from the Demerara River to flow inland Thursday afternoon.

Robeson Benn, who had visited the Princes Street Koker to ascertain the reason behind the rising water levels in the city, explained to Guyana Times that the wooden sluice door at the koker was being replaced with a metal door that had

not noticed to be made so that the new door could fit and the [high] tide caught them. So, they have to knock out about eight inches so the door would drop down to the bottom. There is an eight-inch gap between the new door and the

to stop the intrusion of the river water inland.

The replacement of the sluice door was a project being undertaken by the National Drainage and Irrigation Department (NDIA) which, through the Agriculture Ministry, is

The floods affected Charlestown, Werk-enRust, and other areas. The water started rising around mid- afternoon and within hours had reached into some residential yards, while nearby trenches were almost overflowing.

Home Affairs Minister

an incorrect measurement. This resulted in the water from the river flowing inland through the gap.

“Apparently, they were [installing] a new metal door, which would last longer than the traditional ones, but there was a slight adjustment which was

base of the sluice… [so it] hasn’t gone down completely,” Minister Benn related.

As an immediate fix, this publication was told, that at low tide later Thursday afternoon, the new steel door would be removed and the original wooden door would be re-installed

lending assistance to the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to enhance flood prevention in Georgetown.

In addition to replacing wooden sluice doors, the NDIA is also helping the City Council with maintenance works, servicing and

the provision of fuel for the pumps.

A subsequent statement from the Agriculture Ministry on Thursday revealed that the new sluice door was being installed by a contractor – Square Commodities, which had won the $11.6 million contract for the fabrication and installation of a stainless-steel door at the Princes Street Koker.

The contract, which was signed with the NDIA last August, was tendered and awarded to the company following a public bidding process in keeping with le -

Disappointment Nevertheless, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, who was also on the ground to inspect the issues at the koker, expressed his disappointment with the work of the contractor. He contended that situations like these should never occur.

gal stipulations set out by the Government of Guyana through the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).

A flooded street in Charlestown on Thursday afternoon

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn inspecting the koker

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha engaging the contractor from Square Commodities (left)

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, January 20 –03:00h-04:30h and Saturday, January 21 – 04:30h-06:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, January 20 –15:10h-16:40h and Saturday, January 21 – 16:00h-17:30h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.

WEATHER TODAY

Light rain showers, with few instances of thunder, are expected during the day and into the night.

Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 27 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Northerly to East North-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.92 metres.

High Tide: 15:30h reaching a maximum height of 2.66 metres.

Low Tide: 09:02h and 21:38h reaching minimum heights of 0.77 metre and 0.51 metre.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023 |

Capitalise on residential land space for agri production –President Ali to Ruby residents

our people and the productivity of our businesses. To increase and improve the productivity, we have to have the right technology, the right training, the right research and development,” he stated.

Listen, assess, address

The Guyana Government is pushing an intensive food security agenda, and President Dr Irfaan Ali on Thursday encouraged residents with large residential lands in the countryside to utilise the space for agricultural production.

The Head of State made these remarks during a community outreach at Ruby, East Bank Essequibo (EBE). While the area is known primarily for farming activities, the President is contending that more can be done to expand their production. He pointed out that these are high-value areas for production of many new and high-value crops, such as horticulture production. Pointing to the large lots of residential lands, President Ali urged persons to capitalise on their use.

“[We have to look at] how can we capitalise these land space to be more productive, to bring in more income,” he posited.

The Guyanese Leader went on to note that one of the viable sectors that residents of Ruby can start to explore is fish production. In fact, he said Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, can have the capital equipment come into the communities to help create little fish ponds for those interested. He added that this can be a collaborative effort between neighbours.

“So, if you have a hundred lots here and you have each one of them with quarter acre land to put in a pond to do fish production – aquaculture - then we cooking with gas here… So, automatically, you will have about 25 acres of aquaculture, and that is what we’re focused on. How do we come together as a community and capitalise on the type of advantage that we have,” President Ali stressed.

The Head of State said Government is focused on finding ways in which it can support communities that are already heavily invested in farming and agricultural activities to further expand their opera-

tions. This, he explained, is in line with Guyana’s goal to become the main hub

erations in the area, where the fruits and produce out of the community are now

According to the Head of State, that is why he has been accompanied by a delegation of not only Cabinet Ministers but heads of state agencies and regional representatives, so that they can listen to the residents and address their needs, as well as learn from them what can be done to further improve their pro-

for food supply for the entire Caribbean Community (Caricom). Guyana is currently leading the region’s food security initiative that is aimed at reducing the Caribbean food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.

Improving productivity President Ali further pointed to Nicky’s farm op-

finding their way as manufactured juice going to the North American and Caricom markets.

“So that is what we want to do: work with you on building out this eco-system; building out this agriculture production system… We can’t achieve greatness unless we improve the productivity of

ductive capacities.

Moreover, the President was pleased with the high turnout of females at Thursday’s meeting. He outlined that his Government is keen on working on programmes and initiatives that would continue to empower women.

President Ali led a team to engage residents of Ruby on Thursday afternoon

President Dr Irfaan Ali along with Ministers in Ruby, EBE on Thursday

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Coconuts

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh announced very thrilling news when he said that during this year, a new, highyielding and disease-resistant coconut variety would be introduced to coconut farmers in Guyana.

This billion-dollar industry is often under-recognised, but if one were to follow the business of production in this area, it is a high-performing sector with massive returns for Guyana.

Income from this industry represents a significant addition to the coffers of Guyana.

To quote Dr Ashni Singh: “…in 2022, Government also produced 45,000 coconut seedlings to promote expanded cultivation. In 2023, a new, high-yielding and disease-resistant coconut variety will be introduced to farmers, with eight demonstration plots to be established in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Six.”

In December 2022, there was a boost to the industry with the injection of 1,000 seed nuts of Brazilian Green Dwarf coconut variety in Guyana.

Research has shown that this particular variety is very highyielding, has a higher volume of water, and has a high tolerance from pests and diseases. This can only augur well for our local industry. Given the magnitude of the industry, Guyana’s Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha revealed, some $1.5B has been earned from January to September of this year from the export of coconut and coconut products.

To quote the Minister: “As Caricom seeks to reduce the food import bill by 25% by 2025, with Guyana having the lead responsibility of agriculture in the region, coconut is one of the priority commodities that have been identified for increased production… internationally, the coconut industry is expected to be a USD30 billion industry by 2026, therefore it is important for us to set the stage to tap into this market.”

If one can recall, in 2021, there was another major investor in the industry, who invested US$8 million in the Pomeroon area, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

The coconut industry is one which could be a money-spinner for the country. Already, coconut is the third major crop cultivated in Guyana, after rice and sugar cane. This industry can be one which could produce scores of by-products, for which there is demand for export as well as local use. As it stands, according to the British investor of the Pomeroon project, Duncan Turnbull, the company cultivates the three-year dwarf variety primarily for the production of coconut water. The company is also involved in inter-cropping, with crops like passion fruit, bananas, turmeric and ginger under cultivation.

What is noteworthy is that the investor said a relationship has been established with farmers from the Pomeroon. This is the kind of collaboration Guyana needs, wherein local farmers are able to benefit from large projects.

In 2020, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha had made a welcoming announcement that Guyana would soon join the membership of the International Coconut Community (ICC) as Government advances plans to increase cultivation of this crop countrywide.

The coconut and its by-products are now in growing demand worldwide.

Coconut oil, which once used to be wrongly labelled as highcholesterol, is now regarded as among the best cooking oils, many consumers preferring it to olive and canola oils.

It could be recalled that a coconut expert from India, Dr Shivarama Reddy, had come to Guyana some years ago to work with NAREI and local farmers to examine ways in which the coconut industry could be revitalised, and to look at possible markets for the product. Also, a position paper by NAREI had outlined three main areas of intervention to aid in the coconut industry: increasing the productivity and production potential of the sector; assessing the state of Guyana’s coconut oil industry and its future, and considering possible support mechanisms; and exploring other coconut-derived products in terms of their value-added and export potential.

The coconut industry has the potential to become more profitable by 2026, and this can be achieved if suitable lands are leased to prospective farmers, and intensive agricultural extension services are provided, as well as soft loans and marketing exploration.

The Agriculture Ministry and the Lands and Surveys Commission, with the help of experts, should be able to locate good coconut-growing lands and advertise for suitable takers. Unlike in the past, when there were talks of the massive production, giving optimistic hopes propagated to the public but never materialised, it is time that serious effort be expended in reviving the industry. This industry has very huge potential for expansion and development, especially as it relates to processing and value-added products. Guyana could tremendously increase its earnings from exports in this industry.

Most productive visit to India by a Guyanese President

Dear Editor,

It was the most impressive and productive trip of a Guyanese Head of Government to India. The President deserves accolades for his accomplishment during this short stint as Head of Government in India. And he was well received. It is probably one of the most productive visits (in terms of achievements) of any Head of Government (State) to India by Guyana’s President, Dr Irfaan Ali. He visited so many cities, and engaged so many people (Government officials and businesspersons), and accomplished so much in this trip in terms of signed agreements. No other world leader was able to pull off such a feat. (Credit goes to Indian High Commissioner Dr KJ Srinivasa, who pulled all stops to facilitate the President’s compact programme, that included honour, celebration, business, and visits to historic places).

It was not an easy trip for the President, with available counsel or expertise (of any Guyanese) on India. Absent a Guyana High Commissioner in India made it difficult and challenging for the President. But he himself is sort of an expert on India’s society and politics, given his long stay in the capital as a student during the early 2000s. (He spoke about his student days) He excelled, handling himself well with assistance from High Commissioner Dr. KJ Srinivasa, meeting highest officials in Government, Head of State, MEA and other Ministers, Governors and Chief Ministers of States, cap-

tains of industry, engineers, and educators.

I have been a student of contemporary Indian politics ever since in high school in the 1970s in Guyana. Indian politics and history were also among my minors in college. I read voluminously on India – books and major newspapers and magazines on a regular basis, going back to 1977, when I first entered college. In my countless visits to India, and in all of my readings and studies of foreign Heads of Government (State) visiting India, I would rate the Ali trip as the most productive of all time in terms of agreements signed, places visited, officials engaged, and the reception he received. He has accomplished more for Guyana, at least on paper, than his predecessors who went on official visits –Dr. Jagan, Bharrat Jagdeo, Donald Ramotar, and David Granger. I was there for some of these Presidential visits going back to the 1990s, present at some of Ali’s events, and religiously read Indian media daily. Ali received more media attention (coverage), all positive, than all his predecessors combined.

Every day, there was a flurry of stories in the written press as well as TV coverage. The President grabbed a lot of media attention, including TV interviews, much more than President Santokie of Suriname, who held separate meetings (bilateral greetings) with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, and Foreign Minister (MEA) Dr. S Jaishankar. Santokie and Ali were together at PBD events and

Madya Pradesh Investment Summit, where they were accorded red carpet welcome by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. (Probably not aware of the history, Chouhan never mentioned that MP has historic connection with Suriname and Guyana; indentured labourers from MP went to both colonies).

After PBD, the two Presidents ventured on their own to woo investment to their countries.

The President was honoured everywhere by his hosts in Delhi, Indore, Agra, Kanpur, Mumbai, and Bangalore – garlanded, ‘shawled’, and presented with bouquet of flowers. He responded appropriately with the traditional ‘namaste’, which he would have learned growing up in Guyana and during his stay in India as a foreign student on scholarship.

He had knowledge of the society, and used appropriate language in conversing with his hosts. He repeatedly referred to the PM as Shri Narendra Modi-ji (Pradhan Mantri - PM).

At all times, Ali was well attired and appropriately in traditional Indian outfit, which is also the outfit of his ancestors, the pioneering indentured labourers and his hosts. He even dressed with the popular traditional ‘Modi wear’ at one function.

Ali had professional and productive exchanges, and was very successful with several signed agreements. In his speeches, he came across as smart and knowledgeable about the issues. At PBD, he read from a prepared

speech with some deviations to pay tribute to Modi and the Government. At all other times, he spoke extemporaneously, perhaps with some prepared points.

His speech at the PBD was among his best I heard. It was well received, and was praised by everyone (100% ratings) who listened to or read remarks in the press. Throughout the speech, Modi steadily acknowledged some of Ali’s remarks with a namaste as a gesture of appreciation or agreement. It was one of the finest speeches I heard by a Chief Guest at PBD (and I was at almost all) and it was relevant (on point) to Guyana, the diaspora, and the Caribbean. He praised India for its COVID-19 vaccine policy (Vaccine Maitri) that saved lives not only in Guyana, but globally. No nation was as generous as India in making vaccines available to the world. He made a pitch for investment in, and transfer of technology to, Guyana. And with assistance from Ambassador Srinivasa, the President successfully tackled a bewildering variety of issues – economic, developmental, energy, education, funding or loans, agriculture, security, transfer of technology, among others.

President Ali has earned high grades in assessing his overall presence in India. He deserves laurels in this foreign trip, which augurs well for India-Guyana relations. If agreements are transferred into action, Guyana will grow exponentially.

Sincerely, Dr Vishnu Bisram

A dragon dance performance is seen ahead of the Lunar New Year celebration in Bangkok, Thailand (Reuters)

Dear Editor, I have always been of the opinion that the fires that burned our schools were acts of arson, and now the results of expert investigation have confirmed this opinion.

These are lowdown and despicable acts that words cannot describe. That a person or persons would seek to burn down a school, where over 500 of our children go to receive an education to become worthy citizens of tomorrow, is most reprehensible. Arsonists and other evil people are at work. They are undermining the educational and developmental programmes of our country. These demonic acts must be stopped!

As someone rightly said, these evil people are purposefully out to deny our children an education,

and in return build a nation of illiterates and criminals.

But I must sound a resounding “No!” to their plans, and tell them that they are not going to succeed! Now that we are made aware of the motive and evil intentions of the arsonists, the authorities need to first find the arsonist/s and have then feel the brunt of the law. We must send a clear message that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated in our society.

We can ill afford to have such persons in our midst, and in this regard, we have to separate them from normal, right-thinking society. There must be stiffer penalties for such actions, and in my book, there is a recommendation for longer years in prison, if not a life sentence.

To burn down structures meant for the education and development of the nation's future cannot - I repeat: cannot - be treated lightly.

Burning of our schools is a despicable act Excited to witness Guyana transforming

Like I said in my opening statement, these burnings follow a definitive pattern when these destabilising elements are at work. I call to our attention those seemingly mysterious fires that occur during election periods. These acts of arson surface during election time, when dissatisfaction at the election results run riot in some quarters. I say present-day school fires are no different, they bear the signature statements of those times and the people who are of that backward mentality.

It was Mrs Jagan who, in the height of Opposition protests, said: "You have a

right to protest, once you do so peacefully and in accordance with the law." But some sections of the population, who are of a decadent mentality, cannot countenance a peaceful and legitimate protest. Theirs is a blind fury as they go about those "ignorant" destructive acts, just burn and destroy.

I must hasten to a close by saying the authorities have to stop this madness: establish CCTV cameras at all schools and public buildings in our country. Cameras ought to be placed at strategic locations, and be devices that are constantly monitored, so that we can catch these subversives in their tracks and put an end to those fires immediately.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

Corporal Punishment

Dear Editor,

Every once in a while, the letter pages of the local print media are visited by nostalgic missives in support of corporal punishment. The latest one argues: “Many of us remember the wild cane and the thick ruler being present in the school system from nursery through secondary… This respected part of the British disciplinary system of the past had worked well for many decades in Guyana, and continues to work well in countries like Singapore”.

Indeed, as a teacher in Guyana in the 1970s and 1980s, I used corporal punishment because that was how discipline was administered to me as a student, and within the system by teachers. We didn’t know better, and besides, corporal punishment was the means of discipline applied by parents at home.

One might be tempted to assume that even in 2023, when information and facts are available at the click of a mouse or the roll of a finger, the writer referenced above and others like him still do not know better. Or is it that they choose to ignore the facts because they suffer from extreme nostalgic syndrome?

But so many, including yours truly, do know better. In fact, as a teacher in the US in the 2000s and 2010s, I not only learnt that discipline does not need corporal punishment, but I also successfully applied same in my classrooms. So not only have I walked my talk in advocating for corporal punishment to be banned, but the evidence, via research and practice, abounds. On the flip side, outside of nostalgia, there is no hard evidence presented to prove that corporal punishment actually worked as well as some assume.

Yes, parents did apply the stick, but, in my experience, that elicited two responses – fear or rebellion. Those

like me, who feared, did what was expected not because we wanted to, or felt it was the right thing to do, but because we wanted to avoid the licks. Others took the licks but continued to do what the licks were supposed to prevent, as their way of showing that licks did not bother them. Still others, though fearful of the licks, continued to display little desired change. And within my experience, none of them ever became the children the parents thought the licks would make them become, just like none of my students thirty and forty years ago never became the students I and their parents desired, in spite of corporal punishment. When they did become such individuals, it was in spite of the licks and because other influences were at work, including the company they kept, or the discovery of role models, church and religion; or aspirations, including a desire to rise above their circumstances.

Yet, during my teaching years in the US, I was able to transform eons into students of excellence via classroom management without corporal punishment, as teachers have done and continue to do, even though, at the start of my teaching career in New York City, I wondered how I would ever be able to manage my classroom and help my students to reach for excellence. Similarly, my spouse and I brought up our son to be a wonderful, empathic, humane adult, underpinned by integrity and a moral compass, without resorting to corporal punishment. In fact, countless other parents have so done, and continue to do exactly that.

Now, not only are the mountains of evidence available and eminently accessible, but, unlike the days of yore, there is basis for comparison. Then, corporal punishment was assumed to work, be-

cause, for the vast majority of people, there was nothing for it to be compared to. Today, anyone and everyone who desires to know and possibly do better can, and should do so, instead of falling back on the ossified position that corporal punishment worked in their time and thus would work now.

In the final analysis, life is about evolving based on new knowledge, which is a continuous, and continual phenomena. And arguing for and applying corporal punishment indicates a lack of desire for advancement via this ongoing evolution. The sadder reality is that such stagnancy affects our children, not us.

As a teacher, I would tell my

students, "Your parents simply want the best for you". It was the same thing I often told my son when he was down, or needed reassurance in the face of challenges and frustrations. After all, isn’t it a given that all parents want the best for their children? How is inflicting physical punishment the best, especially now that we all know, or should know, about the negative effects of such infliction? Besides, when we open ourselves to the new and different, we create possibilities for advancement and betterment that do not otherwise exist.

Sincerely, Annan Boodram

Dear Editor, It is important that we appreciate the 2023 Budget allocations, ($781.9 billion), and what the general public should note is that this budget is being financed without any new taxes. That is remarkable.

There are allocations for all of Guyana to benefit. I have noticed a significant number of developmental projects presented in the budget in areas such as infrastructure, health, education, agriculture, etc.

Most outstanding is the $136 billion allocated to the development of roads and bridges. The faster travel times and bridged connections that the new roads will form most definitely would be welcomed.

It is also refreshing to see $1.4 billion being allo-

tor. The culture & arts sector has been undergoing a delightful transformation since the current administration took over, and I am excited to see what changes take place this year.

The budget listed allocations that are too numerous for me to mention individually. However, the significant allocations for the Amerindian communities are noteworthy. Government must also be commended for the past works done within Amerindian communities.

Evidently, the 2023 Budget is one for all the people of Guyana, and I am excited to witness all the plans come to fruition and watch Guyana transform.

Sincerely, Ryan Newton

cated to the culture sec-

Page Foundation

Question 1:

Straw Potato

Materials:

Instructions:

Hold the straw in your writing hand.

Place your thumb over the top end of the straw.

Make sure your hand holding the potato is out of the way.

Now thrust the straw straight into the

n this fun and easy force and motion science experiment for kids, we’re going to stab a potato with a straw.potato with one strong push.

The straw should stab into the potato without bending.

How it works:

Your thumb will trap air inside the straw. By trapping the air, the air molecules will compress and give your straw strength that keeps it from bending as you stab it through the potato.

Make this a science project:

Try this experiment with different sized straws. Try this experiment with other vegetables and fruits. (sciencefun.org)

By The BroThers Grimm

Once upon a time there was a woman who was truly a witch. She had two daughters, one ugly and wicked, whom she loved because she was her own daughter, and one beautiful and good, whom she hated, because she was her stepdaughter. The stepdaughter had a beautiful apron, which the other girl wanted so much that she became envious, and she told her mother that she just had to have that

“Be still, my child,” said

the old woman, “and you shall have it. Your stepsister has long deserved to die, and tonight when she is asleep I will come and chop off her head. Just be sure to lie down at the far side of the bed, and push her close to the front.”

It would have been all over with the poor girl, but just then she was standing in a corner, and she overheard everything. She was not allowed to go outside all day long, and at bedtime her wicked stepsister had her get into

bed first, so she would be lying next to the wall. However, after the witch’s daughter fell asleep, the stepdaughter gently pushed her to the front side of the bed, and she took her place back against the wall.

In the night the old woman crept into the bedroom holding an ax in her right hand while feeling with her left hand for anyone lying at the front of the bed. Then she grasped the axe with both hands and chopped off her own child’s head.

TO BE CONTINUED

Former murder accused gunned down in French Guiana

Former murder accused Edward Skeete, called “Pretty Boy”, has been gunned down in neighbouring French Guiana.

Reports coming out of that country have stated that the 32-year-old Guyanese was shot dead at the end of Kasé Ko Street in Balata West (Matoury), French Guiana on Thursday, January 19.

MO News in French Guiana reported that the shooting, which occurred at about midday, saw Skeete being shot five times, in-

cluding twice in the head. According to MO News, emergency medical workers were unable to resuscitate Skeete at the scene of the shooting, and he was pronounced dead at 12:54h.

A video posted on social media following the shooting shows several women standing around Skeete’s body, with one attempting to resuscitate him. A blue motorcycle was also seen on the road next to his body.

Skeete is no stranger to the law in Guyana. In 2018, Skeete and Nabadingi

Gobin, called “Dangles”, two accused who had been on tri al for the July 2015 murder of Ryan Clementson, were freed by Justice Navindra Singh at the High Court in Georgetown. The men were acquitted of the shooting of former Mocha-Arcadia resident Clementson, which occurred at the Turning Point business place in Tucville, Georgetown in early July 2015. Clementson, who died between July 24 and 25, 2015, two weeks after being shot to his thigh, had stated in his dying moments that

Capitalise on residential land...

“[We want to] give you the opportunity to owning your own farms, your own types of businesses. So, we have to discuss that too,” the Guyanese Leader stated.

President Ali has already expressed his intention to launch a programme for women across Guyana to be more involved in the productive sector. In fact, after returning from his recent visit to India, the Head of State has hinted at rolling out a massive horticulture project led by women.

Meanwhile, the Head of State further underscored the importance of his community engagements, stating that it will be the hallmark of how his administration seeks to not only develop and transform the country but also enhance

the lives of citizens.

“In Budget 2023, what we want to do is work with you on the ground, work with all of you in the communities to see how we can ensure that your priorities and your needs, to ensure that the things that matter to you and the things that bother you on a day-to-day basis are addressed also.”

“It’s very important to do the big things – build the transformative projects, build the economy, give the Because We Care grant and expand it, increase the old age pension, support women, support young people, build sporting facilities, advance the economy, build out schools and health centres – but importantly, also, is how do you integrate and involve your ideas, your vi-

FROM PAGE 3

sion, your aspirations in building the prosperity in every single home, ensuring that every single household benefit from the transformation that is taking place,” he stated.

This way, according to President Ali, the benefits will ensure that the lives of citizens are not only enriched but that wealth can be passed down to future generations thus lifting families out of poverty.

“All of us aspire to leave a country, leave a society, leave a family that is better off than we would’ve found it. So, that is what we want. We want to work with the communities… so that you move from one generation to the next generation in a better place,” the Head of State noted. (G8)

the duo and another were his assailants. He died following cardiac arrest after a surgery.

However, defence lawyers for the accused were successful in preventing certain pieces of evidence from entering the main trial, those being disclosed in the jury’s absence.

Pretty Boy and Dangles had been accused of opening fire on Clementson and his friend Ayodele Solomon on July 14, 2015 near the Turning Point Snackette in Tucville. Clementson, who had been shot in his thigh, succumbed almost two weeks later from cardiac arrest following a surgery.

In February 2020, Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus granted Skeete $20,000 bail after he denied a charge of resisting arrest and assaulting a Police officer.

Skeete, of Independence Boulevard, Georgetown, had denied that on February 10, 2020, at Cornhill Street, Georgetown, he unlawfully assaulted a Police Constable who was at the time acting in the execution of his duties.

He further denied that on

the said date and location, he resisted lawful apprehension by the peace officer who was at the time acting in the execution of his duties.

In December 2020, Skeete was shot twice during a shootout with several persons at James Street, Albouystown, Georgetown.

In August 2020, Skeete and four other men were shot at Magic City Lounge, Garnett Street, Newtown, Georgetown. Taxi driver Raymond Lindo was killed during that shooting.

The scene of the shooting (MO News photo)

Edward Skeete, called “Pretty Boy”

Screen shot from video: A woman attempting to resuscitate Edward Skeete, called ‘Pretty Boy’, at the scene of the shooting

State House shooting

Attacker slapped with attempted murder charge, remanded

The Nigerian national who attempted to invade State House in December 2022 has been discharged from the hospital, and has been slapped with two charges in relation to the incident.

Bethel Ikena Chinezie has been charged with attempting to commit murder and with discharging a loaded firearm with intent.

The 25-year-old appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and was not required to plead to the indictable charges. He has been remanded to prison, and the case will continue on January 26.

On the morning of Thursday, December 15, 2022, Chinezie presented himself at a southern guard hut at State House, located near Carmichael Street, with a demand to see the President.

Cautioned about having to be processed before entering the compound, Chinezie

resisted being so processed, before whipping out a knife from a pouch he was carrying and using same to stab

one of the guards, Teon Perreira, five times about his body and to his neck. After injuring Perreira, Chinezie relieved a female guard of her firearm and retreated from the guard hut.

It was then that shots rang out in the usually quiet neighbourhood, much to

the alarm of those residing in the environs. Civilian videos of the ordeal captured Chinezie walking backwards from the guard hut while continuing to exchange gunfire with the Presidential Guards and other ranks.

The severely injured Nigerian national was later surrounded, intercepted, and disarmed by ranks; and both he and the injured guard were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) for immediate medical attention. Chinezie was placed on life support, while Perreira was treated and admitted as a patient. He was later discharged.

At the scene of the shooting, Police ranks retrieved a 9mm pistol and seven 9mm spent shells. While there were no other injuries reported, there was visible damage to nearby business entities.

It was reported that Chinezie was at the time employed with a cleaning service company. He arrived in Guyana on March 13, 2020, and previously worked at a security company.

The rich…

…and the richer

Several persons who experienced the phenomenon reported, “I’ve been poor, and I’ve been rich. Rich is better.” Since your Eyewitness has never been rich, he’ll take their word for it since it seems that it’s everybody – excepting Gandhi!! – wanna get rich. Eight billion people can’t be wrong, can they?? Well in today’s world, there’s rich and there’s those who qualify to be invited to the World Economic Forum (WEF) at the Davos ski resort in Switzerland!!

This conclave’s been going on since the early 1970s when a German named Klaus Schwab business leaders, billionaires and politicians on the premise that forging ties among the world’s elite could help solve global problems. Now some may say those very folks are the ones who’ve caused the world problems – but money talks and doubters had to walk!! Since even the richest are (still) human, Covid cancelled Davos since 2020. And of course, since then a lot of things have changed in the world of the rich and mighty!! According to an Oxfam Report published this week, the richest 1% accumulated nearly twice as much new wealth as the rest of the world in those two years! The rich don’t ever “throw back”, do they??

This year some 2,700 attendees - with 52 heads of state and government and nearly 600 CEOs, including JPMorgan Chase’s Jamie Dimon and BlackRock’s Larry Fink plus German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and US climate envoy John Kerry have been hobnobbing since Monday!! Notably absent is no other than Elon Musk – of Tesla and Twitter fame! And no, it’s not because he lost US$200billion last year…his remaining US$151 billion still earned him an invite. However he not so politely declined, saying it would be “boring”!! Your Eyewitness figures it’ll take something REAL special to get Musk excited after his last year!!

Then again, maybe he’s a follower of Groucho Marx who’s once declared “I would not join a club who’d have me as a member!!” But say what you want, Musk is a fella who can spot trends and a lot of folks feel that Davos has passed its expiration date as globalization – pushed by the folks who gather there – seems to’ve tapered off. Outflows of cross-border investment hit a high in 2007. Some say “localization” is now displacing the forces of globalization!! Even this year’s theme, “Cooperation in a Fragmented World” conceded this thesis. George Soros the shadowy eminence grise of investors - who’s donated US$32 billion to influence global trends - was another noshow.

Schwab, however, exhorted the attendees to “master the future” in the face of current challenges!! Masters of the future??!!

…and wars

Even as champagne flowed at Davos, the war in Ukraine heated up as Zelensky addressed the gathering remotely and his Interior Minister died in a helicopter crash. But war is also business, no?? The US$100+ billion in military aid sent in only last year isn’t only money is it?? It’s “goods” like Patriot Missiles etc – that have to be manufactured by some business or other. At a profit, no?

Your Eyewitness understands that the Russian invasion had to be stopped and all that. He wouldn’t want another Munich, would he?? But there is that stubborn doctrine that when all else fails there’s nothing like a good, old dirty war to end a recession. And the developed world HAS been stagnant since the financial meltdown of 2008, hasn’t it?? So even though “Golden Arches Theory of Conflict Prevention” – countries with McDonalds wouldn’t go to war with each other! – was violated maybe this injection of funds into the military-industrial complex will turn things around!!

It’s a wonderful world, ain’t it??

…and the burnt out

Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s PM - who’d become Prime Minister at just 37 and had attended the last Davos WEF of 2019 – has just resigned.

Said she’s run out of steam!! Power’s more than an aphrodisiac!!

Bethel Ikena Chinezie being lifted out of court on Thursday

“We will witness a sharp and rapid positive transformation” – Finance Minister on health sector

…as $84.9B allocated in budget for health sector

Amassive $84.9 billion has been allocated in the 2023 National Budget for the health sector; and this, combined with several projects in the pipeline, will transform the infrastructural landscape of the health sector in 2023.

This is the position shared by Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, during his 2023 budget presentation to the National Assembly this week. The Finance Minister shared that since the PPP/C Government assumed office just over two years ago, delivering world class healthcare has been high on the agenda. As a result, in 2022, $74.5 billion was expended in the sector, and this amount has been significantly increased this year.

He cited advancements in the Maternal and Pediatric Hospital and six new regional hospitals as major projects for this year, for which over $13 billion would be spent.

“In 2023, we will witness a sharp and rapid positive transformation of infra-

structure in the healthcare sector…an amount of $13.1 billion is allocated for those projects,” Dr Singh has said.

On the issue of maternal health, and specially to address maternal mortality, he said maternal waiting homes would be established at Moruca and Kato, and a maternity ward would be established at the New Amsterdam Hospital in 2022. A maternal waiting home at Mabaruma is expected to be completed this year.

The Minister told the House, “These investments will help to reduce maternal mortality, which currently stands at an estimated 112 per 100,000 at the end of 2022 – a statistic that we would like to reduce and, ideally, completely eliminate.”

Some $830 million has been allocated to complete the design and commence construction of the Bartica Regional Hospital; and to retrofit and upgrade health centres and other health facilities, $1 billion will be spent. The Karasabai, Sand Creek and Annai Health

Dawn HastingsWilliams is new PNCR General Secretary

Centres would also be upgraded to district hospitals at which radiology and laboratory services can be facilitated. This will cost $237 million. Money has also been budgeted to complete works

at the National Psychiatric Hospital in East Berbice.

Part of the patient care experience and ability to deliver services is the availability of medical and non-medical equipment, and $2.5

billion will be spent for such upgrades.

“In relation to materials management and pharmaceuticals, we are investing in storage capacity, improving storage conditions for cold chain products, providing decentralised training of pharmacy assistants for more effective pharmaceutical supply management. And in 2023, we aim to fulfil over 80 percent of all requests made for drugs and medical supplies,” he disclosed.

The Finance Minister also indicated that, given the sharp infrastructural advancements, Government is also looking to meet all human resource needs in the new and expanded system.

In 2022, 52 doctors and 53 nurses were deployed to augment the existing complement in the hinterland region. This meant villages like White Water, Shulinab and

Monkey Mountain could visit a resident doctor.

“Over $500 million is allocated this year for the training of healthcare professionals,” Dr Singh also announced.

In 2022, 27,000 persons were screened for major non-communicable diseases. The aim in 2023 is to achieve 50,000 screenings.

“On communicable diseases, we have budgeted a sum of $88 million for the procurement of an additional consignment of long-lasting insecticidal bed nets, to defend over 132,000 persons against malaria,” he said.

Some of the initiatives to be launched include having every expecting mother benefitting from at least one ultrasound and visit to an obstetrician, along with screening for postpartum depression among post-delivery.

More than a month after Geeta ChandanEdmond resigned from her post as General Secretary of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R), the party has finally announced her replacement.

In a statement, the PNC/R revealed that Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Dawn Hastings-Williams will be the new General Secretary.

“Hastings-Williams is a long-standing member of our Party, who is eminently qualified to serve as General Secretary. We wish Mrs. Hastings-Williams all the best as she performs the functions of the General Secretary,” the party said in a statement.

Prior to her resignation, Geeta Chandan-Edmond had been on leave of absence from the party. Reports indicate that Chandan-Edmond’s

resignation as General Secretary stemmed from concerns expressed by senior members of the party about her performance. However, earlier this month, just mere weeks after Geeta ChandanEdmond and Faaiz Mursalin, the party’s treasurer, had resigned, Mursalin revealed that racial discrimination and an unhealthy working environment in the party had pushed him to resign within one year of ascending to his position.

In January 2022, former Magistrate Geeta ChandanEdmond had replaced longstanding PNCR Member Amna Ally, who had served as that party’s General Secretary since June 2017.

At the time of ChandanEdmond’s appointment, she was serving as an APNU/ AFC Member of Parliament, and had enjoyed the support of the membership of the PNCR.

Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh

New PNCR General Secretary Dawn Hastings-Williams

Former PNCR General Secretary Geeta Chandan-Edmond

GOGEC signs cooperation agreement with Suriname Energy Chamber

ergy companies' adoption of robust environmental, social, and governance practices.

“The partnership will also see a continued push toward maximising relationships across the energy value chain, deepening existing relationships in traditionally developed economies, and

promoting new relationships across the global South,” GOGEC said on Wednesday.

The signing was done at the Natural Resources Ministry, and was witnessed by Minister Vickram Bharrat and ratified by the President of GOGEC, Manniram Prashad, and President of the Suriname

Energy Chamber, Orland Olemberg. Also in attendance were Vice President of GOGEC, Luanna Persaud; Director of Finance and Planning, Joel Bhagwandin; Director of Information Technology and Distributed Generation, Rennie Leow, and Director of Energy, Dillon Clarke.

The Guyana Oil & Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC) has signed a cooperation agreement with the Suriname Energy Chamber (SEC), and GOGEC on Thursday said the objective of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is to provide a framework for cooperation between the two chambers, to facilitate business development support.

This includes the access

to incentives for the energy sector, to promote joint ventures and partnerships between local and foreign investors, and to undertake joint activities aimed at investment promotion at the national and regional levels.

According to GOGEC, this signing marks the culmination of two years of efforts to ratify a shared vision and framework for enhancing Private Sector opportu-

nities across the two countries.

While not legally binding, the MoU sets the platform for deeper bilateral and regional cooperation, which would see the energy-related Private Sector bodies of both countries addressing issues such as enhancing 'local effects' of resource extraction, accelerating energy transition through the Private Sector, and championing en-

Motorcycle gunmen attack, shoot Cummings Lodge man

24-year-old Steven Surujbally, a resident of Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara, is nursing a gunshot wound he sustained after being attacked by two men on a motorcycle. This incident occurred at about 20:30h on Wednesday at 3rd Street Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara, and reports are that one of the two suspects was armed with a handgun.

Information provided by the Guyana Police Force has so far revealed that Surujbally was walking in a southerly direction en route to his Cummings Lodge home when the suspects approached him on a motorcycle from a northern direction. While they were some distance away, they stopped, dismounted the motorcycle, and

walked up to him.

Surujbally said he suspected the men wanted to harm or do him something, the Police report detailed. As a result, Surujbally had a scuffle with the men, during which the pillion rider pulled out a handgun from the left side waist of his pants and discharged a round. The bullet hit Surujbally on his chest

and exited his right side back. The suspects then jumped on the motorcycle and escaped by riding away in a southerly direction.

Surujbally was escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he is presently being treated.

Several persons have been questioned during the ongoing investigation. (G12)

President of GOGEC, Manniram Prashad, and President of the Suriname Energy Chamber, Orland Olemberg, signing the MoU in the presence of Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat

Construction boom visibly underway in Guyana – Ashni Singh

…as

$54.5B

allocated for housing development

Of the $72.2 billion allocated for the housing and water sectors, $54.5 billion was set aside for housing development in new and existing areas across the country. This was announced by Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh during his 2023 Budget presentation on Monday.

The money will be used for development in new and existing areas, including the construction of roads, drains, and bridges and the installation of utilities to meet housing demands. Areas will include Mabaruma, Oronoque, Buxton/St Joseph, Stewartville, Wakenaam, Block A & B Hope, Success, Balthyock, and No 75 Village. The Government will also undertake infrastructural works in regularised areas, such as Charity, Tuschen, Chateau Margot, Block SS Sophia,

Belvedere, and Amelia’s Ward.

Since taking office in 2020, the Government has allocated over 20,000 house lots in new and existing housing schemes across Guyana.

Additionally, more land

Security guard accidentally shoots teen, self at Bourda Market

will be acquired for new housing areas across the country.

The Government, he added, is committed to ensuring that every Guyanese family would realise their aspirations of becoming a homeowner.

In pursuit of this, the People’s Progressive

Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration has taken the approach to open up new lands, put the requisite infrastructure in place, accelerate the allocation process, support those who require prebuilt homes, and provide easy access to finance.

In 2022, $28.2 billion

was expended on the continuation of infrastructural works in new housing areas across the country including Onderneeming, Charity, Leonora, Cummings Lodge, Great Diamond, Golden Grove, Nonpareil, Enterprise, Experiment, Williamsburg, Lethem and Linden, realising 10,430 serviced lots.

In recognition of the circumstances of deserving cases, the Government has created an innovative homeownership mechanism to facilitate access for all citizens.

“To this end, we launched a Home Construction Assistance Programme in collaboration with financial institutions that will provide loans to persons for the construction of their houses. To date, some 194 persons were prequalified and accessed loans. Further, a Cement and Steel Subsidy Programme was launched to provide steel and cement

to homebuilders constructing homes. Additionally, 600 allottees in Region Nine will receive a grant of $1 million each to commence the construction of their homes and will be offered loans up to ($2) million at a rate of 3.5 per cent under the Lethem Housing Support initiative. To date, 258 persons have prequalified for loans,” the Minister remarked.

Meanwhile, Dr Singh announced that “A construction boom is very visibly underway in Guyana. This is seen through the massive ramp-up of the PSIP [Public Sector Investment Programme], with robust activity from the housing drive, and the building of several hospitals, schools, roads, and bridges; Private Sector investment infrastructure, including hotels and business complexes; and the spillover effects of removing VAT on critical construction materials.”

Two weeks after being employed as a security guard, a 20-yearold man accidentally shot himself and a 15-year-old vendor at Bourda Market while in the process of clearing his firearm.

The incident occurred on Robb Street in the vicinity of the Bourda Market at around 22:00h on Wednesday, and investigations have revealed that the security guard was employed by C. Mohan Security Services just two weeks ago. He admitted to investigators that he is not a supernumerary constable and has also not been trained to use a firearm.

At the time of the incident, this guard was posted at a Robb Street stall owned by the teen’s brother, a 32-year-old vendor of Newtown, Enmore, East Coast Demerara. The teenager is reportedly a school dropout who would usual-

ly assist his brother in running the stall in the market.

At the time, the security guard was armed with the said security service .9mm Taurus pistol and 10 live matching rounds of ammunition. He claimed that he took out the firearm from the waist of his pants to ‘clear it’ when a shot accidentally went off. It hit his left palm, exited and hit the 15-year-old, who was at the time at the market stall. The teen was shot in his right-side abdomen.

After the report was made, the firearm and ammunition were seized and lodged. Checks were made for the spent shell, but none was found. The teen and security guard were escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where they are receiving medical attention. The condition of each is reportedly stable.

Investigations are in progress. (G12)

…admits he is untrained to use a firearm

One of the low-income housing schemes being constructed by the Government

Health Ministry advances “One Health” initiative with new IICA contract

The Health Ministry and the InterAmerican Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) have signed a One Health Capacity Building Contract for a risk-based assessment for food safety in Guyana.

Advisor to the Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy explained that the Ministry has implemented a strategy on “One Health” in keeping with Guyana's 2030 vision.

He added that since August 2020, comprehensive efforts have been made towards an effective approach on the “One Health” initiative.

During his brief remarks, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony expressed his gratitude towards the IICA for its continued support in the health sector. He explained that the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the need for pandemic preparedness systems that will help in the detection of emerging diseases in early stages.

“We recognise that there are some difficulties and challenges and therefore, ahead of time, we want to put systems in place…I think SARS-COV-2 has shown the reality and why we need to do this,” Dr Anthony shared.

In addition, the Minister highlighted that the Ministry has since received funding from the World Bank amounting to US$1 million in grants to kickstart the “One Health” initiative more intensively. He added that funds would be spent for a joint external evaluation to be carried out as a prerequisite, not only for the International Health Regulations (IHR) but also to participate in the first quarter call for proposals for the pandemic fund that is being offered by the World Bank.

With the hope that Guyana becomes one of the first countries to benefit from this fund, Dr Anthony stated that the fund would be used to ensure that the surveillance and laboratory systems were prepared to detect future and current pandemics. The fund will also be used to conduct the assessment for veterinary public health.

Meanwhile, IICA Representative in Guyana, Wilmont Garnett explained that the approach which the team would be utilising for the “One Health” agenda would be to collaborate technicians from

the Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources Ministries, to have comprehensive discussions on the project.

He added that the agenda would have components on monitoring and evaluation which would see the team performing field work after being trained. They would be engaged in physical assessment in their respective regions.

“The approach with “One Health” is that we will be bringing technicians from the Ministries all under

one roof at the same time and we will be rolling out the discussion on what One Health is, collectively what is it we can do for Guyana… Our team will also be doing some field work,” Garnett underscored.

Among those present at the signing ceremony were Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Malcolm Watkins, Health Sectors Development Unit Director Sonia Roberts, and Agricultural Health Specialist Maxine ParrisAaron. (G12)

Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Malcolm Watkins signs the contract with IICA Representative in Guyana, Wilmont Garnett

Scenes from President Dr Irfaan Ali’s outreach to Ruby, East Bank Essequibo (EBE). The Head of State also visited several other villages along the West Coast and West Bank of Demerara on Thursday (Office of the President photos)

Scenes from President Dr Irfaan Ali’s outreach to Ruby, East Bank Essequibo (EBE). The Head of State also visited several other villages along the West Coast and West Bank of Demerara on Thursday (Office of the President photos)

Former APNU MP Rajcoomarie Bancroft passes on

Former Member of Parliament of the previous A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, Rajcoomarie Gloria Bancroft, has died.

In a post on its Facebook page, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) – the leading party in the APNU faction of the Coalition, which has now been dissolved – announced that Bancroft died on Thursday after a period of illness.

“The PNCR is saddened by the passing of former Member of Parliament of the Party and the Coalition, Ms. Rajcoomarie Bancroft, also known as Gloria Bancroft, who died today, Thursday 19th January 2023, after a period of illness. The Party wishes to express its sincere condolences to her children and other relatives at this time of their grief. May her soul be at Eternal Peace!” the post detailed.

Bancroft had served as a Member of Parliament in the 11th Parliament of Guyana under the David

Granger-led APNU/AFC Administration. She was a regional advocate for Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

Back in February 2018, Bancroft was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital after complaining of ill health. She was placed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and was under observation after she had experienced severe diabetic complications. (G8)

4 GTT customers drive away with new cars

Four GTT customers on Wednesday drove away with the grand prize of a new Toyota Raize as the company concluded its “Tis the Season” Christmas promotion with a big celebration at its 55 Brickdam location.

The winners are Ackulara Thomas of Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) and Callace Isaac from Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo, who both activated a social plan. The other winners Sunita Gossia, of Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown, paid her Guyana Power and Light bill and DSL bill using mmg+ and Dwayne Thom from Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara (WCD), Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), registered for Fibre service.

The promotion ran for eight weeks, and 10 customers were part of the grand prize draw after a preliminary process witnessed by auditors.

Thomas, who was the winner of the first car, said that she has been a GTT customer for more than 10 years and it was the first time she has owned a car.

“I’m so excited… I’m a

Faulty koker door...

mother of four; I’m self-employed; I have a small business and I do charitable work as far as Berbice. I have a motorbike, but it is the first time I will own a car,” she said.

Isaac, the winner of a car also, said that he enjoyed using GTT’s social plans and activated several bundles over the holiday season to enter into the promotion.

“The plan is great and you get a lot of data at a low cost, so I like it very much. I usually don’t win anything in promotions so I didn’t dream of winning a car,” he said.

The customers, who were randomly called onstage, were challenged to reach into sealed boxes on a wall until they won a prize.

Latoya Mc Intosh, of Annandale, East Coast Demerara (ECD), qualified

Some of the winners of the GTT “Tis the Season” Christmas promotion with their prizes

by paying her GTT Fibre, GWI and GPL bills via mmg+ and walked away with a 43inch television.

“I’m overjoyed. I have three children and this is an early birthday gift from mommy,” she said.

Four other customers also won consolation prizes. They are Maharanie Budhu, who

won a bicycle; Ester Persaud, who won a 55-inch television; Berindra Nauth, who won a 43-inch television and Yvonne Kissoon, who rode away with an electric bike.

Throughout the duration of the promotion, customers won several other prizes, including mmg+ cash and shopping vouchers.

FROM PAGE 2

“We went through a very transparent process with these contracts. The company submitted bids and was awarded the contract based on their submission. Today, when we are having very good weather, people are being affected [by floods] because of faulty work by the contractor. The Government is now put in a position to create a solution, because we have been entrusted with taking care of the welfare of all citizens of the country.

“This is the first time we’ve worked with this company and as Minister, I am very dissatisfied. When we took office, we made it clear that we want everyone to be given a fair chance to work with the Government and receive contracts, but if you are not experienced or have experienced people working with you, you may find yourself in a similar situation

and we do not take these situations lightly,” Mustapha stressed.

Terminate contract

The Agriculture Minister went on to say that the NDIA has since been advised to terminate the contract with this company and award an emergency contract to another firm with more experience.

NDIA’s Chief Executive Officer (ag) Dave Hicks and Senior Engineer Timothy Innis were on the ground monitoring the situation.

While the affected areas were drained during the low tide on Thursday evening, engineers from the NDIA will continue to monitor the koker overnight to ensure that the water from the Demerara River does not further intrude inland.

In the meantime, Public

Works Minister Juan Edghill on Thursday afternoon pleaded with residents and businesses around the Werk-en-Rust and surrounding areas to take the necessary precautions to safeguard their belongings from being damaged should the water continue rising.

He also reassured residents that a collaborative effort would see work being done to resolve the issue.

“In some instances where I have just inspected, the water has already started to come into some people’s yards, and even those who are living on the bottom flats could be affected… All the engineers from the Drainage and Irrigation Authority, with support from the Ministry are here. A solution will be found as soon as the tide changes,” the Public Works Minister had indicated to affected residents.

Water from the Demerara River at Ketley Primary School

Dead: Rajcoomarie Gloria Bancroft

CTVET certificate holders can gain from Guyana’s massive transformation - DCEO

…as Council hands

over outstanding certificates to technical institutes

The Council for Technical and Vocational Education Training (CTVET) on Thursday morning handed over outstanding certificates for students who had completed programmes between 2014 and 2021.

The certificates were handed over to the heads of technical institutes across the country.

Director of the Council, Patrick Chinedu Onwuzirike, has said the activity holds great significance as it seeks to resolve the issue of students being certified to enter the workforce. He added that the CTVET has also undertaken to implement two cycles of certification per year: in the June/July period, and in the November/December period.

Deputy Chief Education Officer Technical, Dr Ritesh

Tularam, has said the delivery of the certificates to persons who have completed their programmes between 2014 and 2021 adds to the cohort of the certified skilled labour force in Guyana.

“Students receiving their certificates can move into what is before us - the massive transformation, including the oil and gas and traditional sectors,” he is quoted as saying in a statement from the Education Ministry.

He further noted that this is part of the Ministry’s underlying focus, to ensure persons are certified so that they can be gainfully employed and make significant contributions to national development.

In brief remarks, CTVET Chairman Floyd Scott said the event signifies the fulfillment of a pertinent re-

sponsibility of the Council. He further commended the field officers, external data verifiers, Assessment and Certification Committee, the Council, DCEO-Tech and the administrators of the institutes for their commitment to ensuring the realization of this responsibility.

“CTVET has its responsibilities to nation building, and to ensure it develops a sustainable competency-based system that is responsive to the actual requirements of the workplace by supplying quality and qualified skilled labour for all our national stakeholders.”

GTI Principal Dr Renita Crandon expressed confidence that the delivery of the certificates would spark a renewed interest in persons to pursue programmes at the various technical in-

stitutions with the assurance that they would receive their certificates upon completion.

The Georgetown Technical Institute received 592 outstanding certificates, the Linden Technical Institute received 95, the

New Amsterdam Technical Institute received 56, the Essequibo Technical Institute received 207, the Mahaicony Technical and Vocational Training Centre received 430, the Guyana Industrial Training Centre received 167, and Clarke's

Production

Also present today was Dr. Robin Austin, Head of the Assessment and Certification Board.

Govt investing in broiler breeder facility

As part of its aggressive efforts to reduce dependency on the importation of hatching eggs, the Government will this year be investing in a broiler breeder facility to bolster the poultry industry.

The facility would greatly aid poultry production, since Guyana is importing approximately 52 million eggs each year at a cost of some $350 million. This move by the Government would help to support the local poultry sector and increase productivity, the Department of Public Information has reported.

The initiative would guarantee hatching eggs are produced sustainably, both locally and eventually for the export market.

The move is in keeping with the Government’s commitment to ensure food security and increased agriculture production, in keeping with its goal to reduce Caricom’s food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.

The Government has begun working with large poultry producers in a consortium to produce corn

and soya for feed production to support the poultry industry. This is part of the administration’s plan for Guyana to become self-sufficient, as the country combats rising food prices and supply shortages.

The Government continues to invest in the agriculture sector by implementing several agricultural initiatives to expand and develop the sector. As such, the Government would continue to assist the agriculture industry by making investments to enhance the production and variety of

mutton, create a bio-secure small ruminant breeding facility, and help improve sanitation and hygiene standards for milk and milk products.

The livestock industry remains vital to the Government’s agenda for enhanced food security, sustainable economic growth, and enhanced farm incomes.

Some $28.7 billion has been allocated in the 2023 budget to ensure the rapid growth and development of Guyana’s agriculture sector.

CTVET Chairman Floyd Scott handing over certificates to GITC Principal Dexter Cornette and Principal of GTI, Dr Renita Crandon Deputy Chief Education Officer Technical, Dr Ritesh Tularam

received nine.

This makes a total of 1556 outstanding certificates now in the hands of skilled Guyanese.

US, Cuban officials wrap up lawenforcement talks in Havana

Avisiting US delegation wrapped up two days of talks on law-enforcement issues with Cuban officials in Havana on Thursday, the State Department said, the first meeting of its kind since such negotiations were halted under former President Donald Trump.

Washington's concerns about counterterrorism were among items on the agenda, US officials had said. Trump placed Cuba on the US list of state sponsors of terrorism shortly before his term ended in January 2021, and the Biden Administration has been reviewing this since taking office.

This week's meetings marked the revival of the law-enforcement dialogue, which was launched in 2015 under

former President Barack Obama, but was stopped in 2018 under Trump as he rolled back his predecessor's historic détente with

Rock legend David Crosby dies aged 81

Veteran US folk-rock star David Crosby has died aged 81, his representative has confirmed.

He helped set up two major bands in the 1960s: “The Byrds” and “Crosby, Stills and Nash”. He was renowned for his guitar-playing and vocal harmonies.

His career saw him achieve the rare feat of being inducted to the revered Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice.

Crosby's wife told showbiz site Variety that he died "after a long illness" while surrounded by family.

"His legacy will continue to live on through his legendary music," the statement added.

Crosby was born in California on August 14, 1941, the son of a Hollywood cinematographer.

He joined “The Byrds” in 1964 – a folk-rock group which scored its first hit with a cover of Bob Dylan's “Tambourine Man”.

His tempestuous tenure – a period during which he also briefly dated singer Joni Mitchell – culminated in his being fired from The Byrds in 1967.

Crosby, Stills and Nash came together as a supergroup soon afterwards, and performed their first concert as a trio at the legendary Woodstock festival in 1969.

They were later joined by Canadian singer Neil Young.

This band, too, was beset by in-fighting and broke up after a few years – though it has periodically reformed for concerts.

Hits written by Crosby during his time in the band included the hippy anthems “Almost Cut My Hair” and “Deja Vu".

His six-decade career culminated in a final solo album, “For Free”, released in 2021. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Communist-ruled Cuba.

President Joe Biden, who served as Obama's Vice President, has begun reversing some of Trump's policies, but has maintained others, insisting the Cuban Government must improve its human rights record after a crackdown on protests in 2021.

"This type of dialogue enhances the national security of the United States through improved international law enforcement coordination," the State Department said. But it stopped short of announcing any agreements between the Cold War-era foes.

The Cuban Government

did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The talks, which included the State Department, Justice Department and Homeland Security as well as FBI and immigration officials and the Coast Guard, had been expected to focus on combating cybercrime, terrorist threats and drug trafficking.

US officials did not respond to a Reuters question whether the agenda included discussion of Cuba's possible removal from the terrorism-sponsoring list. Cuba has called the designation a "slander" and false pretext to punish it economically.

Asked about the issue, a State Department spokesperson said: "After a careful review of all available information and intelligence, the Secretary of State will only designate or rescind SST designations after concluding that a country meets the relevant statutory criteria in accordance with applicable law."

When asked whether the United States was considering delisting Cuba, State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told a daily briefing he had "no change in policy to announce" and said the Havana talks were specifically security-related. (Excerpt from Reuters)

3 T&T Coast Guard sailors detained in alleged kidnapping, murder case

Three members of the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG) Special Naval Unit (SNU), who were part of the Chief of Defence Staff’s security detail, were detained for questioning into the alleged kidnapping and assault of Teddy Richards Sylvester, and possibly his murder.

Their arrests occurred in dramatic fashion Tuesday morning, when a special TTDF unit and the T&T Police Service (TTPS) swooped down on them at the TTDF headquarters in Chaguaramas.

The three suspects were apprehended by a joint Army and Police team shortly af-

ter Chief of Defence Staff Darryl Daniel was driven to his office at the TTDF headquarters. Within minutes, police surrounded and arrested the suspects in one of the entourage security vehicles accompanying Daniel.

Senior Army sources who witnessed the incident told Guardian Media that the suspects were later taken to Camp Ogden, where Police searched their vehicles and seized any evidence that could assist them in their investigation.

Sources said the lockers of the men were also searched at the Chaguaramas base.

The men, all in their thirties and from Barataria,

Carenage and St Ann’s, were detained for questioning in the kidnapping and possible assault of Sylvester, who was abducted from his home in Cameron Hill, Maraval, on January 9.

Residents discovered Sylvester’s body four days later, dumped off Cadet Road in Petit Valley.

Senior homicide investigators who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the investigation was still in its early stages and that they did not want to prejudice the investigation until they had “specific information and evidence going forward”. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

A vintage car passes by the US Embassy in Havana, Cuba, June 15, 2022. Picture taken on June 15, 2022

David Crosby (centre) performs with Graham Nash and Neil Young in 1969

Regional

PM Gaston Browne re-elected in Antigua and Barbuda

Bolivian Judge rules Santa Cruz Governor to remain in detention

ABolivian judge has ruled that Luis Fernando Camacho, a prominent right-wing politician and Governor of the South American country’s largest department, will remain in detention as he awaits trial on charges of “terrorism”.

The ruling from Judge Rosmery Lourdes Pabon upholds a previous decision, made by a different Judge in late December. It called for the Santa Cruz Governor to be held for four months in pre-trial detention after Prosecutors suggested he could be a flight risk or obstruct the ongoing investigation.

Fernando Camacho faces charges that he helped instigate the 2019 political crisis that resulted in the resignation of Evo Morales, the country’s first Indigenous President, after his election for a controversial fourth term in office.

On Thursday, Prosecutor Omar Mejillones said Fernando Camacho’s actions as a leader in the civil unrest led to a “power vacuum” in the country.

Fernando Camacho has denied any wrongdoing, and his sudden arrest in December sparked outrage in Santa Cruz, a relatively wealthy agricultural region that had already been gripped by wide-

spread protests.

Earlier in the year, demonstrations broke out after the left-wing Government of President Luis Arce announced it would postpone the country’s census, which was expected to show population growth in Santa Cruz and thereby allot more resources and legislative representation to the department.

Barely a month after those demonstrations ended, Fernando Camacho was arrested, igniting new protests in the region. His supporters called the arrest a politically motivated “kidnapping”, designed to silence a prominent voice in Bolivia’s far right.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

1st Brazil logging raids under Lula aim to curb Amazon deforestation

Prime Minister Gaston Browne led his ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) to a nail-biting victory in Wednesday’s General Election, winning nine of the 17 seats for a third consecutive term in office, according to the preliminary results released early Thursday morning.

The party had won 15 of the 17 seats in the 2018 General Election.

“You know I have always said to people, you must always give thanks, no matter how small the blessing and I see this decision as a blessing upon the people

of Antigua and Barbuda,” Prime Minister Browne told supporters.

He said the results would give the ABLP Government the opportunity to re-align “and also create the opportunity for fresh talent.

“Truth be told, whenever you try to remove incumbents it is very difficult. So when you remove incumbents then it creates the space you could bring in new talent to the organisation, to the Government.

“So we do not see this as a bad thing per se; we see it as an opportunity at the same time. However, I want to thank those of my colleagues

who would have served this country well over the last eight and a half years and, of course, we will continue to stand by them, so we will not leave them out in the cold,” Browne told supporters.

Prime Minister Browne, who became the first Government leader in Antigua to win three consecutive General Elections, headed the victorious ABLP candidates, as the main Opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) won five additional seats as compared to the solitary seat it had gained in the 2018 general election.

(Excerpt from CMC)

Jamaica: FSC boss resigns

Everton McFarlane, the Executive Director of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), has resigned effective January 31.

Finance Minister, Dr Nigel Clarke made the announcement while speaking with Journalists on Thursday afternoon.

McFarlane is set to depart on leave today, January 20, Clarke said, adding that Bank of Jamaica's Chief Prudential Officer, Major Keron Burrell, will be seconded to the FSC to assume the role of interim Executive Director.

"I intend to make further policy announcements on Monday," Clarke said.

McFarlane's resignation comes as the FSC faces criticism over its regulatory oversight of companies in the financial services sector amid the multibillion-dollar fraud saga at Stocks and Securities Limited (SSL).

Sprint great Usain Bolt is among more than 30 in-

vestors whose funds are said to have been stolen by a former employee of SSL.

Earlier this week, the Police Fraud Squad and Financial Investigations Division (FID), which are probing the case, said questionable transactions were being made on some of the affected accounts for more than a decade.

At a press conference on Wednesday, the FSC was largely evasive when questioned by Journalists on

the matter.

Clarke on Thursday reiterated his disgust at the development.

"I am certainly disgusted at what has been revealed thus far in terms of the fraud at SSL and I have given a commitment that the Government will do everything in our power to ensure that the strength and credibility of Jamaica's financial sector remains intact," he added.

(Jamaica Observer)

More than 157, 000 passengers have visited The Bahamas since the start of the year with a record 26, 410 passengers arriving during one day last week, and stakeholders indicating that the figures were a “strong rebound in the cruise industry”.

The Nassau Cruise Port (NCP), in a statement, said that the previous one-day total was 25,393 and that the port had received 1592 cruise ship calls since the restart of cruising in 2021, with several of those being six-ship days.

NCP Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mike Maura Jr said that the high number of cruise passengers this early in the year was a great sign for Bahamians given the country’s dependency on the tourism sector.

“This is indicative of a strong rebound in the cruise industry, with climbing occupancy rates. These passenger volumes have

a positive impact on the tourism industry in The Bahamas. Geographically, The Bahamas is blessed, not only with sun, sand and sea; but also with proximity to the major home ports in the US, and Nassau is the busiest transit port in the world.

“Nassau often caters to repeat cruise travel clientele, and this year will showcase more exciting of-

ferings downtown with the completion of the cruise port. This is an exciting time, and a very exciting and encouraging start to 2023,” said Maura.

NCP said that the country welcomed more than 3.2 million cruise passengers last year and is hoping to increase that number to more than four million before the end of 2023. (Excerpt from CMC)

Peru: Protesters, fired up by deaths, march on Lima demanding change

Thousands of Peruvians, many from the country's southern mining regions, descended on the capital Lima on Thursday for a major planned march against the Government and Congress, fired up by over 50 deaths linked to protests since last month.

The clashes mark the worst violence Peru has seen in more than 20 years as many people in poorer rural regions vent anger at the Lima political elite over inequality and rising prices, testing the copper-rich Andean nation's democratic institutions.

Protesters are demanding the resignation of President Dina Boluarte, fast new elections, a clearout of Congress and a new Constitution to replace a market-friendly one dating back to strongman leader Alberto Fujimori in the 1990s.

In buses and on foot, thousands have journeyed to the capital, carrying flags and banners criticising the Government and Police for deadly clashes in the southern cities of Ayacucho and Juliaca, many demanding Boluarte step down.

"We want Dina Boluarte to resign," said Julio Saldivar, a protester from

Ayacucho, where a dozen people died in December.

Protesters are planning a "Take over Lima" protest on Thursday, with thousands of Police expected in response.

On Wednesday night, scuffles began with protesters throwing rocks and Police using tear gas to disperse crowds.

The protests, sparked by the dramatic December 7 ouster of leftist former President Pedro Castillo after he tried to illegally shutter Congress and consolidate power, have seen 43 people killed in clashes, including one Police Officer. Nine more have died in related accidents. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Prime Minister Gaston Browne and his wife, Maria (right) pictured earlier on the campaign trail (GP)

An agent of the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) gets ready for an operation to combat deforestation, in Uruara, Para State, Brazil, January 19, 2023 (Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino)

FSC Executive Director Everton McFarlane

Oil extends decline on US recession concern, inventory build

Oil rebounded on Thursday as investors bet that revived demand from China would outweigh swelling US stockpiles.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) finished a volatile session up 1.1 per cent to US$80.33 a barrel. Prices seesawed throughout the day, falling as much as 1.7 per cent early in the day and later rising as much as 2.1 per cent from Wednesday. The fluctuations came as JPMorgan Chase & Co analysts raised their estimate for China’s oil demand growth, saying consumption is on track to rise to a record 16 million barrels a day. However, lingering economic growth fears in the US continued to spook Wall Street, prompting some traders to shy away from risky assets.

“The macro picture is creating a lot of friction to the rally in crude, and it will be hard for the commodity to continue to outperform in the near term until we see concrete evidence that demand in China is accelerating or macro headwinds cool down,” said Rebecca Babin, a senior energy trader at CIBC Private Wealth Management.

Traders had largely priced in the build in inventories at the Cushing storage hub – the biggest increase since April 2020 – which was a lingering consequence of a cold snap that shut down refineries last month.

Crude has endured a bumpy start to the year, collapsing 10 per cent in the first two sessions only to rebound as China’s reopening dominates the trading narrative. The demand outlook remains the market’s swing factor, with industrialised economies looking for a soft landing as interest rates rise and China repeals Covid curbs.

WTI for February delivery rose 85 cents to US$80.33 a barrel in New York.

Brent for March settlement rose US$1.18 to US$86.16 a barrel.

“The reopening is proceeding sooner (by one quarter) and more rapidly than we originally expected,” JPMorgan analysts, including Natasha Kaneva, wrote in a note to clients. “This opens a possibility that China is poised for a strong economic recovery that will gather steam in February, after the end of the Lunar New Year holiday.” (Bloomberg)

Around the World

Putin ally warns NATO of nuclear war if Russia is defeated in Ukraine

An ally of President Vladimir Putin warned NATO on Thursday that a defeat of Russia in Ukraine could trigger a nuclear war, while the head of the Russian Orthodox Church said the world would end if the West tried to destroy Russia.

Such apocalyptic rhetoric is intended to deter the US-led NATO military alliance from getting even more involved in the war, on the eve of a meeting of Ukraine's allies to discuss sending Kyiv more weapons.

But the explicit recognition that Russia might lose on the battlefield marked a rare moment of public doubt from a prominent member

New Zealand PM Ardern's resignation resonates for women in power

The shock resignation of New Zealand

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who altered the face of global politics when she was elected the world's youngest female Head of State, throws a spotlight on the demands faced by women in power.

Holding back tears as she made her declaration, the 42-year-old said she had next to nothing left "in the tank" and it was time to step aside after a challenging 5-1/2 years in office.

"Politicians are human," she said. "We give all that we can, for as long as

US hits debt ceiling as partisan standoff sparks economic worries

The US Government hit its US$31.4 trillion borrowing limit on Thursday, amid a standoff between the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and President Joe Biden's Democrats on lifting the ceiling, which could lead to a fiscal crisis in a few months.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen informed congressional leaders including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy that her department had begun using extraordinary cash management measures that could stave off default until June 5.

Republicans, with a newly-won House majority, aim to use the time until the Treasury's emergency maneuvers are exhausted to exact spending cuts from Biden and the Democraticled Senate.

Corporate leaders and at least one credit ratings agency warned a long standoff could rattle markets and unsettle an already shaky global economy.

Yellen warned that the June date was subject to "considerable uncertainty" due to the challenge of forecasting payments and Government revenues months into the future.

"I respectfully urge

Congress to act promptly to protect the full faith and credit of the United States," Yellen told congressional leaders in a letter Thursday.

But there was no sign that either Republicans or Biden's Democrats were willing to budge.

Republicans are trying to use their narrow House majority and the debt ceiling to force cuts to Government programmes, and argue that the Treasury could avoid default during a standoff by prioritising debt payments. This idea has been explored in past standoffs, but financial experts have questioned its feasibility. (Excerpt from Reuters)

we can, and then it's time. And for me, it's time."

Ardern said on Thursday she would step down no later than early February and not seek re-election.

Among the admiration from world figures there was also an appreciation of why the job may have taken its toll.

"I will miss her, but I understand her point," European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said on the sidelines of the annual World Economic Forum meeting.

Ardern's remarks alluded to the challenges of having a young family in office, said Anne-Marie Brady, a professor of politics at New Zealand's University of Canterbury.

She made a point of telling her daughter Neve that she was looking forward to being there when she started school this year and told her longtime partner Clarke Gayford that it was time they married.

"She was just very upfront and relatable," added Brady. "I think any young woman that has grown up in this era where we can have it all, yes, but actually we still have our heart connections to our loved ones."

Meanwhile, candidates to replace Ardern after her shock resignation are expected to start to emerge today ahead of a leadership vote on Sunday.

(Excerpt

from Reuters)

"Nuclear powers have never lost major conflicts on which their fate depends," said Medvedev, who served as President from 2008 to 2012.

Striking a similar tone at what he described as an anxious time for the country, the Head of the Russian Orthodox Church said in a sermon for Epiphany that trying to destroy Russia would mean the end of the world.

Medvedev said NATO and other defence leaders, due to meet at Ramstein Air Base in Germany today to talk about strategy and support for the West's attempt to defeat Russia in Ukraine, should think about the risks of their policy. (Excerpt from Reuters)

shooting

Actor Alec Baldwin will be charged with involuntary manslaughter over the shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was killed on a film set when he fired a prop gun.

Baldwin had been rehearsing a scene for the Western film “Rust” when the shooting happened at a ranch near Sante Fe, New Mexico in October 2021.

Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the film's armourer, will also be charged.

Lawyers for both said they intended to fight the charges in court.

Santa Fe's District Attorney Mary CarmackAltwies announced the charges on Thursday, adding that they would be filed by the end of the month.

"Actor and producer Alec Baldwin and armourer Hannah Gutierrez Reed will each be charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter," the statement

read. "I have determined that there is sufficient evidence."

"On my watch, no one is above the law, and everyone deserves justice," she said.

Both face up to 18 months in jail and a US$5000 fine if convicted. They will be tried by a jury, prosecutors said.

Film director Joel Souza was also wounded in the shooting, but Prosecutors said no charges would be filed in connection with that.

The film's assistant director David Halls entered a guilty plea to a misdemeanour charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon, prosecutors said. He will spend six months serving probation.

In a statement, a lawyer for Hutchins' husband, Matthew, said he supported the filing of the charges.

"It is a comfort to the family that, in New Mexico, no one is above the law," he said.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

South Korea, Iran summon

other's envoys as spat over Yoon remarks deepens

Iran and South Korea summoned each other's envoys in a deepening spat over comments by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol that described the Islamic republic as the enemy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Yoon, speaking to South Korean troops stationed in Abu Dhabi earlier this week, said South Korea and the UAE are under "very similar" circumstances, each facing North Korea and Iran as "the enemy, biggest threat."

Relations between Seoul and Tehran had already been testy over frozen Iranian funds in South

Korea and suspected arms dealings between Iran and North Korea.

Yoon's office has said his comment was intended as words of encouragement for South Korean soldiers while the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday it had repeatedly offered explanations to Tehran.

Unappeased, Tehran summoned South Korean Ambassador Yun Kanghyeon on Wednesday, warning that bilateral ties could be reviewed if the issue was not resolved, according to a report from Iran's official IRNA news agency.

(Excerpt

from Reuters)

of Putin's inner circle. "The defeat of a nuclear power in a conventional war may trigger a nuclear war," former Russian President

Dmitry Medvedev, who serves as Deputy Chairman of Putin's powerful security council, said in a post on Telegram.

Russia's Security Council Deputy Chairman, Dmitry Medvedev gives an interview at the Gorki State residence outside Moscow, Russia on January 25, 2022 (Sputnik/Yulia Zyryanova/pool via Reuters file photo)

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern

each

Alec Baldwin to be charged with involuntary manslaughter over “Rust”

HOROSCOPES

Fight for the underdog, but don’t put yourself in harm’s way. Think big, be moderate and do the work yourself; you will make headway. A financial gain or perk will take you by surprise.

(March 21-April 19)

(April 20-May 20)

You’ll learn from the experiences you encounter. Address sensitive issues fairly to avoid backlash. If you or someone else overreacts, nothing will change for the better. Time is on your side.

Leave nothing undone. The work you put in will give you an advantage. An opportunity will develop through someone you enjoy working alongside. Make a pitch and see what happens. Get moving!

(May 21-June 20)

(June 21-July 22)

(July 23-Aug. 22)

Emotional issues will make you more demonstrative and encourage you to speak your mind and bring about change. Keep an open mind, but don’t give in to someone who is taking advantage of you.

Tune in to what your body is telling you. Make your health, appearance and meaningful relationships priorities. You’ll develop an exciting plan that will bring you significant opportunities to use your skills effectively. Be true to yourself.

Don’t be shy. Accept an invitation, participate in events and make personal changes that spark your imagination. An encounter with someone unique will give you the incentive to do your own thing.

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22) (Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Socialize or pursue knowledge and skills that offer solutions to troublesome or uncertain situations. You’ll get what you want if you do your best to please others. Be a good listener.

Stop procrastinating and implement the changes that bring you closer to the happiness you desire. Be bold, ask questions and get the lowdown. Don’t waste time on people who can’t make up their minds.

Put everything you’ve got into physical changes and clean living. Eliminate clutter by giving what you no longer use to someone in need. Set an example for friends and family.

Complete your plans and embrace change and new beginnings wholeheartedly. Curb overindulgence and overspending. Don’t let your uncertainty turn into a costly venture. Be skeptical of a persuasive suggestion.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

(Feb. 20-March 20)

Take pride in how you run your home and treat people. Look for common ground when dealing with others. Personal growth, fitness and proper eating habits will build confidence and fetch compliments.

Share your thoughts and listen to suggestions. Protect your health and physical well-being. Don't make a change to please someone. Take pride in how you present who you are.

ARCHIE PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

DILBERT

ICC U19 Women’s World Cup…

Kiwis end WI U19 Women’s winning streak

On Thursday morning in South Africa, New Zealand’s Under-19

Women effortlessly hunted down a measly target of 69 to end the winning streak that the West Indies Under-19 Women were enjoying during the inaugural ICC Women’s Under-19 World Cup.

able in the middle, but it

mulated 5 runs from 18 balls, and James accumu-

New Zealand won the toss and opted to field first, putting the Windies Indian opening partnership up to a stronger test than they had faced thus far.

Shunelle

they were both sent back to the dugout early. Sawh accu-

lated 5 runs from 15 balls; and both were dismissed early by Anna Browning and Olivia Anderson respectively.

Naijanni Cumberbatch didn’t trouble the score, Djenaba Joseph also contributed 5 to the total, and Asabi Callender could muster only one run, as the Rising Stars were plunged into hot water by the 10th over. The West Indies Women continued to lose wickets regularly, and

scored sporadically until they were bundled out for 68 runs in 19.2 overs.

Interestingly, the highest score on the West Indian roster was contributed by extras, from which they racked up a valuable 25 runs.

Eventual player of the

Messi, Ronaldo score in exhibition match in Saudi Arabia

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in his first game in Saudi Arabia, and Lionel Messi was also on the scoresheet as Paris St-Germain edged a Riyadh All-Star XI 5-4 in a thrilling contest.

The exhibition match in the Saudi capital saw two of the greatest players of all time sharing a pitch for possibly the final time. Messi opened the scoring, and Ronaldo netted twice for 2-2 at half-time. Both players were substituted just after the hour mark.

The two PSG centre-backs were also on the scoresheet, as Sergio Ramos added to Marquinhos's delightful finish in the opening period.

But the French side played much of the game with 10 men, as Juan Bernat received a straight red card for hauling down Saudi international Salem Al Dawsari, and Neymar also missed a penalty in a breathtaking first half.

Jang Hyun-soo's header drew the All-Star XI level at 3-3, but Kylian Mbappe's penalty and substitute Hugo Ekitike's composed effort put PSG out of sight. Anderson Talisca drilled in a longrange consolation late in in-

jury-time, but there was not time for a dramatic equaliser.

Two “GOATs” face off Ronaldo has had to wait for his debut since a big move to Al-Nassr, because of a suspension from his time at Manchester United. But he will make his competitive debut for his new side on Sunday, when they host Ettifaq at Mrsool Park. So, it was fitting that his first game in the Middle Eastern country - a high-profile and hugely competitive friendlywas against his old foe Messi, who lifted the World Cup in neighbouring Qatar just a month ago.

The Argentina captain latched on to Neymar's pass, and converted the opener af-

ter just two minutes, but the 37-year-old Portugal skipper was not to be outdone. Ronaldo's first was from the penalty spot, which was awarded after he was floored by PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas's forearm smash into his face, leaving him with a badly bruised cheek.

And he showed the hunger and desire he still possesses for the second, an initial header hitting the post, then reacting quickest to convert, showcasing his trademark celebration for both goals with the crowd joining in.

Both players were taken off on 61 minutes, and could have faced each other for the last time, unless they cross paths again in the twilight of their glittering careers.

Sportswashing superpowers flexing their muscles

The match, however, has been criticised by human rights group Amnesty International, who said Saudi Arabia's sportswashing strategy was at "full throttle".

Peter Frankental, Amnesty UK's Economic Affairs Director, said: "Ronaldo's big-money transfer to Al Nassr and Messi's engagement by the Saudi authorities as a tourism ambassador are both part of Riyadh's aggressive sportswashing programme. The authorities are seeking to exploit the celebrity appeal of elite sport to deflect attention from the country's appalling human rights record.

"Saudi Arabia's extensive use of sport as an exercise in soft power is well-known, but with Qatari-owned PSG appearing in Riyadh, we effectively have two sportswashing superpowers - Saudi Arabia and Qatar - flexing their muscles.

"Footballers like Ronaldo and Messi have huge profiles, and we'd like to see them resisting being used as the famous faces of sportswashing, including by speaking out about human rights issues in both Saudi Arabia and Qatar." (BBC Sport)

match, Kate Chandler, was the pick of the bowlers, registering 3-8 from her 4 overs. Both Olivia Anderson and Abigail Hotton had two scalps each, bowling 2-14 from 2 and 2-10 from 4 respectively.

In reply, the Under-19 Kiwis cruised to victo-

ry with 12.4 overs and 10 wickets to spare. Openers Browning (28 from 22) and Georgia Plimmer (41 from 22) got the job done with ease within 7.2 overs.

The Windies U19 Women will have their next outing on Sunday, January 22, 2023 against Rwanda.

(Kdjazz Mitchell, 19.2 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Anna Browning 4-1-8-1

Kayley Knight 3.2-1-6-1

Olivia Anderson 2-0-14-2

Abigail Hotton 4-0-10-2 Kate Chandler 4-2-8-3

Tash Wakelin 2-0-13-0

New Zealand Women Under-19s (T: 69 runs from 20 ovs)

BATTING R B Anna Browning not out 28 22

Georgia Plimmer not out 41 22

Extras (lb 1, w 2) 3 TOTAL 7.2 Ov (RR: 9.81) 72 Did not bat: Isabella Gaze †, Izzy Sharp (c), Emma McLeod, Tash Wakelin, Paige Loggenberg, Kate Chandler, Kayley Knight, Abigail Hotton, Olivia Anderson

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Jannillea Glasgow 2-0-15-0

Kdjazz Mitchell 2-0-15-0

Shalini Samaroo 2-0-29-0

Ashmini Munisar 1.2-0-12-0

Cristiano Ronaldo (with 5) and Lionel Messi (7) have won 12 Ballon d'Or trophies between them

Sawh and Zaida James took their time to get comfort-

paid no dividends, as

The West Indies U19 Women will now turn their attention to Rwanda on Sunday

Shunelle Sawh was the first to go in the West Indies' collapse

Georgia Plimmer hit a quick fire 41 from 22 in the chase

Sports associations continue to voice appreciation for $4.3B budget Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)

“Funding of historic National Cricket Academy highlights commitment of Government”

The Guyana Government continues to demonstrate its commitment to the development and promotion of sports in Guyana with the historic 2023 budget allocation of 4.3 billion dollars for the overall development of national sports.

This unprecedented and substantial allocation is indicative of Government’s comprehension of the benefits of sports to society, and its intention to catapult sports to higher levels and professional standards.

GCB President Bissoondyal Singh had this to say: “The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) embraces this outstanding initiative by Government, which in our opinion seeks to build on the successes gained by the various sports disciplines, and to effectively address and correct the gaps in the system that may otherwise hamper sports development”.

President Singh also said, “The GCB Executives, on being elected to office in March 2021, saw it necessary to utilise the template for development established by Government through the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport (Ministry of CYS). In this regard, we, at the GCB, have continuously explored effective ways in which a stronger collaboration can be achieved between the GCB and the Ministry of CYS. This dispensation resulted in the establishment of the National Cricket Academy Program, which will witness eighteen (18) GCB Academies across the three (3) counties of Guyana feeding talented young players into the County Academies, and thereafter into the National Academy”.

President Singh declared that the GCB is particularly pleased with this significant budget allocation for

sports, and more specifically for the National Cricket Academy. It is apposite to note that this is the first time ever that a National Cricket Academy has featured in the annual budget considerations. In this regard, the GCB commends Minister Charles Ramson for his presentation of the budget, which highlighted the essential need for the National Cricket Academy. The Academy Program is projected to develop rounded players in relation to fitness, technical development, mental toughness, diet, nutritional guidelines, lifestyle, and mentorship exercises.

“The GCB is pleased to note that its programme for cricket development is aligned with that of Government, and will soon yield the desired result of producing talented and professional players.

To produce high-quality players on a sustainable basis, the GCB’s programs from the youth stage to the senior stage will consist of activities designed for cricket development and performance assessment. Players will be given the opportunity to learn the game in a systematic manner that fosters both individual and team growth”.

Further, President Singh stated that the development of cricket facilities for the hosting of the National Cricket Academy at the Guyana National Stadium also deserves commendation, since the players’ development is related to the opportunities and facilities of international standards available.

The GCB is also pleased to note that there is a budget allocation for the restoration and development of community centre grounds, which will contribute significantly to the development of cricket within communities.

The GCB President lauded His Excellency Dr.

Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF)

The Guyana Cycling Federation team is happy with the budgetary allocation made for sports by the Government to the tune of 4.3 billion.

This federation has been working ‘closely with the National Sports Commission, and our association wishes to concur, in this dispatch, candidly expressing gratitude for the financial and other assistance rendered over the last season.

For the calendar year 2023, the GCF made a request to the commission for support/ sponsorship for the 40-year-old Annual Youth and Culture 3 Stage Road Race, the “One Guyana” Road Race, to be held on the Essequibo coast, and for cycling infrastructure in Georgetown.

With such a ‘giant budget’, the Guyana Cycling Federation is optimistic of having its budgetary desires satisfied.

Mohamed Irfaan Ali for leading the way in these development initiatives. His hands-on leadership has seen progressive results in sports since his ascension to the highest office in Guyana, including the securing of the CPL finals for three (3) years: 2022 to 2024, and the introduction of Cricket Carnival in Guyana held during the CPL Guyana leg 2022.

Additionally, President Singh stated, “It is clear to the GCB that His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali fully understands the needs, requirements and dynamics involved in the administration of sports. This comprehension allows him to project development initiatives that cater to an all-inclusive participation in sports, and particularly activities for the disabled, which was noted in 2022.

Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA)

The GCB President restated his fervent hope for a continuation of the excellent relationship between the GCB and the Government of Guyana in general and His Excellency in particular.”

The Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) commends the 2023 National Budget presented by the distinguished Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh, which includes the largest ever allocation for the sports sector.

GASA also wishes to express appreciation to the National Sports Commission and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport for their contributions towards this effort. The 2023 budget allocation emphasises the commitment for develop-

Guyana Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (GBBFF)

Over the past three (3) years the Guyana Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (GBBFF) has benefited significantly from the office of the Honourable Minister Charles Ramson Jr., the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport and the Office of the Director of Sports.

With direct financial assistance over the said years the GBBFF has been able to successfully host its annual Seniors Bodybuilding and Fitness Championship and also attend the annual Central America and Caribbean Bodybuilding

and Fitness Championship.

With the expected allocation for sports, as stated in the National Budget that was presented on Monday the 16th day of January, 2023, and the anticipated direct injection of resources into the continued development of sports in Guyana, athletes, coaches, the general sports fraternity and every single Guyanese should be pleased with the developmental direction that Minister Charles Ramson Jr. and the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport is taking sports.

ment of sports and culture expressed by H.E. Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, and by extension the Government of Guyana.

The budget, the largest ever allocated to NSC, paves the way for the Government's continued development and transformation of sports and culture. The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, and the National Sports Commission continue to be two of GASA’s strongest supporters while the organisation seeks to improve the development of swimming locally.

With the 2023 substantial budget allotment, GASA is confident efforts would be further enhanced. Under the leadership of the Honourable Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Mr. Charles Ramson Jr, and his team, which includes the Director of Sports, Mr. Steve Ninvalle, GASA is of the firm belief the allocation will create longterm development and sustainability for sports and culture in our nation.

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Guyana’s sports associations have continued to voice their admiration and gratitude for the whopping $4.3B Sport budget that was announced on Monday by Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh in his presentation to the National Assembly at the Arthur Chung Conference Center (ACCC).

Since that Monday announcement, several sports associations have come out in praise of the budget, which focuses on development of infrastructure and athletes. Below are the sentiments of several other appreciative Associations:

GASA President, Dwayne Scott

GCB President, Bissoondyal Singh

Imlach and Hemraj stroke fifties after Permaul's 5-wicket haul

By Brandon Corlette at ProvidenCe

On the second day of the second Guyana Harpy Eagles practice match at Providence, EBD - a day blessed with glorious sunshine - Tevin Imlach and Chandrapaul Hemraj scored attractive half-centuries as Senior left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul impressed with a five-wicket haul.

The situation in the match

75.4 overs, and Motie's XI have scored 216 all out in 54.5 overs. In the second innings, Imlach's XI reached stumps at 167-4 in 45 overs, equipped with a lead of 177 runs.

In the second innings of Imlach's XI, the in-form Matthew Nandu went for a duck - removed by the probing Nial Smith, who maintained a Test line and length. At the tea interval on the second day, Imlach's XI were at 13-1. The duo of Imlach and Hemraj then took the game

Hemraj was dealing in boundaries as he square drove Tyndall for back-toback boundaries. Imlach was solid as a rock, but he gathered runs with ease. He also took back-to-back fours against Ashmead Nedd,

ing struck by Hemraj to the boundary. The little left-arm spinner then forced Hemraj into a false shot, by which he was caught at long-on for 60 runs made from 80 balls.

Hemraj's enterprising innings included 14 fours and

thus far is that Imlach's XI have scored 226 all out in

into their own hands with a 116-run second-wicket stand.

and was dropped by Junior Sinclair at first-slip for 57.

Imlach then lost his wicket as he tried to go over cover. He found the fielder and was dismissed or 65 from 73 balls. He struck 10 classy fours in his knock.

Motie continued to show his class as a Test spinner, and was unfazed after be-

four singles.

Leon Johnson, who is looking to play himself into competitive cricket again, was undone by Motie, who made a mess of his stumps and ended his knock at 11. Johnson was bowled on the stroke of stumps, while his partner Kevlon Anderson was unbeaten on 18 from 69 balls. Motie had 2-33 in 12 overs.

Permaul rips through Motie's XI

Resuming the second day on 46-2, Motie's XI reached 147-5 after 37 overs. The opening session of day two saw three wickets falling and a few catches being dropped. Test opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul was the first man dismissed on the day, trapped leg-before by Demetri Cameron who looked an improved bowler.

Chanderpaul made a 59-

ball 36, which had five boundaries. Promising youngster Mavindra Dindyal had a top delivery by Permaul when he was caught at the wicket for 43. Dindyal had faced 65 balls and produced an innings laced with eight fours.

Essequibian batsman Kemol Savory, who scored 170 in the first practice match, played one shot too many and was caught at midon off the bowling of Cameron for a 12-ball 13. At the lunch interval, Anthony Bramble was unbeaten on 15, while Sachin Singh was on 11.

At the resumption, the 47-run partnership between Singh and Bramble ended when Singh was trapped at the crease by Clinton Pestano for 25 from 52 balls. The compact Singh had struck three fours and one six.

Bramble looked set for a big score after playing some

sweet drives. However, he was caught at short-leg for 37 off his Albion teammate Permaul.

Ronaldo AliMohamed, who again wasted another start in a shot-filled 18 which had two sixes, was caught. Permaul ripped through Motie's XI to end with magical figures of 5-8 in 7.5 overs, which included three maidens.

Shamar Joseph, who had six wickets in the first match, had 2-49 in 11 overs, while Cameron had 2-32 in six overs when the innings closed on 216 all out in 54.5 overs.

The names of members of the Guyana Harpy Eagles team are expected to be submitted to Cricket West Indies today, and followed by an announcement to the media. This four-day match will continue from 9:30h.

Independent Group submits World Cup Review report to CWI

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has announced that the current transfer window for players registered with the Federation’s Elite League, nine Regional Associations and the Women’s Football Association (WFA) would be closed on January 31st.

The current window opened on January 1st, giving coaches attached to 130 clubs an opportunity to bolster their squads at the start of the 2023 season.

The 9 Regional Association Senior Men Leagues, the ongoing

Women’s Development League and the recently concluded One Guyana President’s Cup tournament provided a national platform for senior male and female players to impress scouts and coaches ahead of the transfer window.

Associations and clubs have been reminded that in order to be considered procedurally correct, all transfers must involve, and have the full agreement of, the former club, the player, the former regional association, the new club, and the new regional association - in the case of a

transfer from one association to another.

Players attached to the GFF Elite League clubs and associations have two weeks left to decide which club they would represent in the new season. Clubs will be hoping to hold on to their top players during this window, as coaches look to strengthen their defence.

The Guyana Football Federation’s 2023 agenda focuses on players having more on-field time in local leagues and tournaments in preparation for regional and international competitions.

Following the comprehensive review of matters related to the performance of the West Indies Men’s team and their early exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia last year, the independent three-member group appointed by Cricket West Indies (CWI) has submitted its report to CWI President Ricky Skerritt.

The group was chaired by Justice Patrick Thompson Jr., a High Court Judge of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, and included Brian Lara, the West Indies batting legend and current IPL T20 Head Coach, and South African international cricket coach Mickey Arthur.

Commenting on the report, CWI President Ricky Skerritt said: “The quality of this report lends itself to becoming the foundation of

the learning and planning culture that we have envisaged for the sustainable improvement of all our cricket teams. It brings great promise and direction after the grave disappointment of our T20 World Cup results. I am extremely grateful for the panel’s commitment to lend so much of their valuable time to this important review project, including carefully interviewing more than 30 players, coaches, administrators, directors and other stakeholders, who I am told spoke so willingly and frankly to the panel.

“The independent group’s report has been circulated to CWI’s Board of Directors, and I look forward to the Board agreeing to implement the 34 recommendations as soon as possible.” The Executive Summary

the recommendations are available on the CWI website.

CWI President, Ricky Skerritt

Veerasammy Permaul claimed 5 for 8 on day two

Tevin Imlach gathering runs during his half-century

Chandrapaul Hemraj was his aggressive self during his half-century